My new Phily NeighborhoodBy Madelyn Miller, the TravelladyNo, I have not moved to Phily. But the birth of my first grandbaby, the handsome Hudson Rex Miller (doesn’t that name sound like a future movie star?) is making Philadelphia my second home. No, I do not have a real home here. But I will be testing all the Phily hotels as I visit the young prince (his initials are HRM, after all) MY FIRST SECOND HOMEFirst up, The Radisson Plaza Warwick Hotel This hotel built in 1926 is a landmark building designed in English Renaissance style by local architect Frank Hahn. The property features a spacious and elegant lobby, sits in the prestigious Rittenhouse Square district and is popular with both leisure and business travelers. The hotel has recently renovated guest rooms and amenities include a fitness center, business center, room service, and valet parking. The Radisson Plaza/Warwick Hotel has a new bar/lounge that is popular and has a great happy hour. It is called Tavern 17. Be sure to check it out while you are there. Almost anything you could want is within walking distance. What a great neighborhood. Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel
1701 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Tel: (215) 735-6000
Fax: (215) 789-6105
www.radisson.com WHAT’S IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?Restaurants, Shops, Bars And Coffee Shops In Rittenhouse Square
Restaurants/Cafes:
Brasserie Perrier Café at Boyds – Located inside the venerable high-end menswear store, this cafe is known for its inventive salads, paninis and French specialties such as the cheesy croque madame. Desserts are from the Le Bec-Fin pastry cart.
1818 Chestnut Street, mezzanine, (215) 564-1801 Continental Mid-Town – The global tapas menu, mini desserts not meant for sharing and a see-and-be-seen penthouse patio bar draws hip locals. 1801 Chestnut Street,
(215) 567-1800, www.continentalmidtown.com Di Bruno Bros. – Famous for its fine selection of Italian cheeses and meats, this locally owned gourmet mega-store also offers made-to-order sandwiches and wonderful cappuccino and pastries. 1730 Chestnut Street, (215) 665-9220, www.dibruno.com La Creperie Cafe – This reasonably priced French café specializes in both sweet and savory crepes—try the feta with tomatoes and basil or fresh strawberries with cream. 1722 Sansom Street, (215) 564-6460 Le Bar Lyonnais – Still one of the best-kept secrets in town, Le Bec-Fin’s intimate downstairs bar offers the delights of Georges Perrier’s cooking at a fraction of the price. 1523 Walnut Street, (215) 567-1000, www.lebecfin.com Mantra – Patrons get in touch with their inner Zen at this bi-level Asian restaurant/lounge, with globetrotting bites like Hoisin BBQ chicken roll, Mongolian firepot and Persian nut rub drumettes. 122 S. 18th Street, (215) 988-1211 Pietro’s Coal Oven Pizzeria – The crust on this top-shelf pizza is thin and crispy thanks to the heat of the coal-fired ovens. Menu also includes pasta dishes and salads.
1714 Walnut Street, (215) 735-8090, www.pietrospizza.com Sansom Street Oyster House – This venerable fish house boasts a great raw bar and serves fried and grilled seafood and updated dishes like sesame-crusted tuna served medium rare in a ginger-soy reduction. 1516 Sansom Street, (215) 567-7683, www.sansomoysters.com Smith’s Restaurant and Lounge – Start with the Schuylkill spring roll (a new way to eat a cheesesteak) and move onto the inventive sandwiches and flatbread pizza at this new contemporary American spot. 39-41 S. 19th Street, (267) 546-2669,
www.smiths-restaurant.com Snackbar – This boutique snackery offers just eight tables and a half dozen seats at the bar, but locals line up for pastries in the morning and an intriguing small plates menu all day until 2:00 a.m. 53 S. 20th Street, (215) 545-5655, www.phillysnackbar.com Striped Bass – Located in a former brokerage house, this glam seafood restaurant features the inspired seafood creations of chef Rob Boone, a great bar scene and a complimentary raw bar during Friday night Happy Hour. 1500 Walnut Street,
(215) 732-4444, www.starr-restaurant.com Tavern 17 – This new spot at the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel Philadelphia offers New American small plates like mini-sliders, lovash with garlicky dips and a tasty pulled chicken club. 220 S. 17th Street, (215) 790-1799, www.tavern17restaurant.com Tinto – Award-winning chef Jose Garces follows the success of his Old City restaurant Amada with this cozy eatery serving pintxos, the variety of tapas found in the Basque region of Spain. 114 S. 20th Street, (215) 665-9150, www.tintowinebar.com Tria – An eclectic wine bar and cheese lounge, Tria offers boutique beers, a global wine list and a menu of tapas-style plates. 123 S. 18th Street, (215) 972-5585, www.triacafe.com Twenty Manning – This sleekly modern neighborhood spot serves up chef Kiong Banh’s outstanding Asian-influenced global fare. 261 S. 20th Street, (215) 731-0900, www.twentymanning.com Tea, Coffee and Confections: Bonte – Belgian street vendor-style crispy waffles come filled with everything from chocolate to bananas, with cups of La Colombe coffee on the side. 130 S. 17th Street, (215) 557-8510, www.bontewaffles.com Café Hausbrandt – Brewing is an art form at this fragrant Italian-owned coffee house, which offers free WiFi and excellent pastries. 207 S. 15th Street, (215) 735-2242, www.hausbrandtusa.com Empyrean Coffee – Comfy couches, rich java and great people watching from the window seats up front make this spot a local favorite. 1921 Walnut Street,
(215) 557-9322 Great Tea International – This serene tearoom carries a wide range of aromatic loose-leaf teas from around the world. 1724 Sansom Street, (215) 568-7827,
www.great-tea.net La Colombe – Daniel Boulud is just one chef who favors the beans from this elegant European-style café, which serves its java in beautiful flowered china.
130 S. 19th Street, (800) 563-0860, www.lacolombe.com Metropolitan Bakery – A Philadelphia institution, Metropolitan features wonderful breads, spreads, scones and sweets, just off of Rittenhouse Square. 262 S. 19th Street, (215) 545-6655, www.metropolitanbakery.com Miel Patisserie – Gourmet desserts, sophisticated sweets and handcrafted, artisan chocolates line the cases at this sophisticated shop. 204 S. 17th Street, (215) 731-9191, www.mielpastry.com Premium Steap – Tea is the new coffee at this cozy teahouse, featuring some 140 varieties of loose-leaf tea and a signature tea au lait. 111 S. 18th Street, (215) 568-2920, www.wayneteasalon.com Remedy Tea Bar – This stylish café sells traditional teas along with “nouveau drinks,” such as tea lattes, blended tea drinks and mar“tea”nis. 1628 Sansom Street,
(215) 557-6688, www.remedytea.com Tuscany Café – This relaxed coffee spot goes beyond quality lattes with fresh wraps, sandwiches, soups, salads and pastries. 226 W. Rittenhouse Square, (215) 772-0605 Shops: AIA BookStore & Design Center – Owned and operated by the American Institute of Architects, this eclectic shop is the place for books, gifts and collectibles relating to the design arts. 117 S. 17th Street, (215) 569-3188, www.aiaphila.org Benjamin Lovell Shoes – This shop is proof positive that fashionable shoes don’t have to hurt. 119 S. 18th Street, (215) 564-4655, www.benjaminlovell.com Bluemercury – A one-stop shop for all things relating to personal beauty care and cosmetics, this store stocks brands like Kiehl’s, Bliss, Red Flower and more.
1707 Walnut Street, (215) 569-3100, www.bluemercury.com Coeur – Peruse this beautiful boutique for designer lingerie from the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, along with accessories and some menswear too. 132 S. 17th Street,
(215) 972-0373 Dahlia – Shop for treasures from the Holy Land at Dahlia, which offers handcrafted jewelry from Israel, along with a wide range of Judaica. 2003 Walnut Street,
(215) 568-6878 Details – Home accessories, designer greeting cards and invitations and unusual gifts invite browsing at this cozy shop. 131 S. 18th Street, (215) 977-9559 Gallery 339 – Located in a stunning Center City space, this modern gallery is the most ambitious venue for fine art photography in town. 339 S. 21st Street, (215) 731-1530, www.gallery339.com Kimberly Boutique – Trendy looks for the fashion forward by the likes of Ed Hardy, Tibi and Betsey Johnson await shoppers here. Style-savvy staff can help pull looks together. 123 S. 16th Street, (215) 564-1066, www.kimberlyboutique.com Lagos – Stylish museum-quality jewelry created by internationally known local artists Steven and Ann Lagos is featured at this gem of a boutique. 1735 Walnut Street,
(215) 567-0770, www.lagos.com Papyrus – All-things paper, from greeting cards to gift wrap, gift bags, note cards, journals and unique gifts, can be found here. 211 S. 17th Street, (215) 545-2680, www.papyrusonline.com Petulia’s Folly – Brilliant print dresses, delicate designer duds and upscale linens keep company with imported soaps and candles at this fetching boutique. 1710 Sansom Street, (215) 569-1344, www.petuliasfolly.com Pooch – Rittenhouse Square’s hip pet boutique features designs by Nancy Adler, who uses vintage fabrics to make collars and leashes with matching belts for humans.
2020 Locust Street, (215) 735-0793 Shops at Liberty Place – High-end specialty boutiques such as Caviar Assouline and Linde Meyer Gold & Silver mix with national chains like Express, J. Crew and Ann Taylor Loft on the bottom floors of this high-rise building. 1625 Chestnut Street,
(215) 851-9055, www.shopsatliberty.com South Moon Under – What started as an Ocean City Maryland surf shop is now an eclectic resort wear boutique featuring designs by Betsey Johnson, Shoshanna, True Religion, Ella Moss, Ben Sherman and more. 1731 Chestnut Street, (215) 563-2298, www.southmoonunder.com Town Home – This store is the place to go for designer home accessories, the kind of stuff found at Barney’s, Fred Segal or Bergdorf’s. 126 S. 19th Street, (215) 972-5100, www.townhomephila.com Nightclubs and Entertainment: Bar Noir – Black-and-white film noir clips set the stage for a late night DJ scene at this underground haunt. 112 S. 18th Street, (215) 569-1160 Bob and Barbara’s Lounge – One of the best juke boxes in town, occasional live music and the city’s longest-running drag show on Thursdays makes B&B’s a funky, diverse spot. 1509 South Street, (215) 545-4511 Chris’ Jazz Café – Local and national jazz acts take the stage here every night but Sunday. 1421 Sansom Street, (215) 563-3131, www.chrisjazzcafe.com D’Angelo’s Ristorante Italiano – This Italian restaurant turns into a disco on the weekends when an older crowd of partiers hits the dance floor. 256 S. 20th Street,
(215) 546-3935, www.dangeloristorante.com Good Dog Bar and Restaurant – Ideal for a drink and some conversation, this friendly bar has a great juke box, good bar food and a whimsical canine theme. Try the blue cheese-stuffed burger. 224 S. 15th Street, (215) 985-9600, www.gooddogbar.com Helium Comedy Club – Stand-up comedy goes for the laughs Wednesday through Saturday nights at this intimate venue, which also offers drinks, snacks and desserts.
2031 Sansom Street, (215) 496-9001, www.heliumcomedy.com Loie – Mild-mannered restaurant by day, this classic French bistro morphs into a late night scene with DJs spinning at 10:00 p.m. 128 S. 19th Street, (215) 568-0808 Nodding Head – Besides award-winning microbrews, this second floor eatery goes beyond bar food with a menu that includes tasty vegetarian selections.
1516 Sansom Street, (215) 569-9525, www.noddinghead.com Prime Rib – The bar at this dressy, retro-cool steak house features live jazz standards and sultry vocals. 1701 Locust Street, (215) 772-1701, www.theprimerib.com Roxy Theater – Foreign and indie films are screened at this cozy art movie house.
2023 Sansom Street, (215) 923-6699 Rum Bar – Feast on Caribbean flavors and sip premium island rum while late night DJs heat up the scene. Two-for-one mojitos bring crowds in on Monday nights.
2005 Walnut Street, (215) 751-0404, www.rum-bar.com Tank Bar – Located upstairs at Friday, Saturday, Sunday restaurant, this longtime favorite spot for romantic encounters features a 135-gallon tropical fish tank and an intimate setting. 261 S. 21st Street, (215) 546-4232 Ten Stone Bar & Restaurant – Belly up to the bar for a friendly, Brit-pub experience that offers a good opportunity to mingle with locals from the ’hood, along with a yummy sandwich menu. 2063 South Street, (215) 735-9939 Tritone – This hipster hideaway features a quirky schedule of bands and DJs playing everything from jazz and blues to rock-and-roll cabaret. 1508 South Street,
(215) 545-0475, www.tritonebar.com JUST A FEW MORE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PHILYFOR MORE INFORMATION visit www.gophila.com and check out the blog www.uwishunu.com
Philadelphia Independence Visitor Center (800) 537-7676. GREAT SAVINGS www.citypass.com BEST DESSERTS Naked Chocolate Café
1317 Walnut Street
Philadelphia. PA 19107
www.nakedchocolatecafe.com
215-735-7310
Open Monday to Thursday 10AM-11PM
Friday and Saturday 10AM to 11:30PM
Sunday 11 AM to 9PM Maron Chocolates
1734 Chestnut Street
215-988-9992
www.maronchocolates.com BEST PLACE TO GET CONNECTED Ing Direct does more than just save you money. It gives you a free wireless internet connection. They even have about a dozen computers you can use for free to surf if you are in the neighborhood without your computer.
1636 Walnut Street FAVORITE STORES P.H.A.G
Philadelphia Home Art Garden
1225 Walnut Street
215-627-0461
www.thephagshop.com Show of Hands
a collection of crafts
1006 Pine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-592-4010
Showofhandsphila@aol.com GREAT GUIDEBOOKS ACCESS PHILADELPHIA
By Beth D’Addono
Harper Resource
www.harpercollins.com THE THIRTEEN COLONIES
Travel Historic America
Fodor’s
www.fodors.com | 